Bluegrass


Book Description

The twentieth anniversary paperback edition, updated with a new preface Winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association Distinguished Achievement Award and of the Country Music People Critics' Choice Award for Favorite Country Book of the Year Beginning with the musical cultures of the American South in the 1920s and 1930s, Bluegrass: A History traces the genre through its pivotal developments during the era of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys in the forties. It describes early bluegrass's role in postwar country music, its trials following the appearance of rock and roll, its embracing by the folk music revival, and the invention of bluegrass festivals in the mid_sixties. Neil V. Rosenberg details the transformation of this genre into a self-sustaining musical industry in the seventies and eighties is detailed and, in a supplementary preface written especially for this new edition, he surveys developments in the bluegrass world during the last twenty years. Featuring an amazingly extensive bibliography, discography, notes, and index, this book is one of the most complete and thoroughly researched books on bluegrass ever written.




How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life


Book Description

John Fahey is feared and revered around the world as a guitar player and composer. His inventions for acoustic and electric strings are the stuff of legend. Known for his finger-picking finesse, Fahey's pen has the same world-gobbling ferocity as his guitar. Fahey's collection of short stories defy classification - part memoir, part personal essay, part fiction, part manifesto. It is a collection that makes an explosive selection of his work available for public consumption. What else is there to say, except 'Grab your ankles, dear readers. It's kingdom time!'




Industrial Strength Bluegrass


Book Description

In the twentieth century, Appalachian migrants seeking economic opportunities relocated to southwestern Ohio, bringing their music with them. Between 1947 and 1989, they created an internationally renowned capital for the thriving bluegrass music genre, centered on the industrial region of Cincinnati, Dayton, Hamilton, Middletown, and Springfield. Fred Bartenstein and Curtis W. Ellison edit a collection of eyewitness narratives and in-depth analyses that explore southwestern Ohio’s bluegrass musicians, radio broadcasters, recording studios, record labels, and performance venues, along with the music’s contributions to religious activities, community development, and public education. As the bluegrass scene grew, southwestern Ohio's distinctive sounds reached new fans and influenced those everywhere who continue to play, produce, and love roots music. Revelatory and multifaceted, Industrial Strength Bluegrass shares the inspiring story of a bluegrass hotbed and the people who created it. Contributors: Fred Bartenstein, Curtis W. Ellison, Jon Hartley Fox, Rick Good, Lily Isaacs, Ben Krakauer, Mac McDivitt, Nathan McGee, Daniel Mullins, Joe Mullins, Larry Nager, Phillip J. Obermiller, Bobby Osborne, and Neil V. Rosenberg.




The Big Book of Bluegrass Songs (Songbook)


Book Description

(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook). The best collection ever of 70+ bluegrass standards! Includes: Alabama Jubilee * Arkansas Traveler * Bill Cheatham * Blue Moon of Kentucky * Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues) * Cripple Creek * Dark Holler * I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow * I Never Will Marry * I Saw the Light * I'll Fly Away * The Long Black Veil * Mule Skinner Blues * Orange Blossom Special * Rocky Top * Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms * Sitting on Top of the World * Wabash Cannonball * Wayfaring Stranger * Wildwood Flower * Will the Circle Be Unbroken * The Wreck of the Old '97 * You Don't Know My Mind * and more.




Old as the Hills


Book Description




Kentucky's Bluegrass Music


Book Description

It is likely that most fans of bluegrass music would concede that no state should be more associated with bluegrass music than Kentucky--and rightly so. Bluegrass music draws its name from the band that Kentuckian Bill Monroe formed during the late 1930s and 1940s. Bill named his band Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys to honor his home state. Eventually, the music these bands and others like them were playing came to be known as bluegrass music. Later, another Kentuckian, Ebo Walker, while playing with the Bowling Green-based bluegrass band, New Grass Revival, coined the phrase "newgrass" to describe the band's progressive style of music. Other Kentuckians such as Bobby and Sonny Osborne, J. D. Crowe, Ricky Skaggs, and Dale Ann Bradley have become bluegrass stars. Some of the musicians from Kentucky covered in this book are quite famous--some are not. Famous or not, all of them have a deep-rooted passion for the music they play.




The Legends of Bluegrass Music


Book Description

In the heart of the American South, amid rolling hills and lush landscapes, a genre of music was born that would enchant generations and shape the very essence of the nation's musical heritage. "The Legends of Bluegrass Music" is a journey through the lives and contributions of the most influential figures in this soul-stirring genre. At the heart of the Bluegrass universe stands a figure synonymous with the genre itself—the "Father of Bluegrass," Bill Monroe. From his roots in Kentucky to the revolutionary creation of the Bluegrass Boys, his trailblazing path defined not only the sound but the spirit of this distinctive music. Within these pages, encounter the inimitable duo of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Their enduring partnership enchanted audiences far and wide, inspiring us to explore the profound connection between tradition and innovation. The architects of Bluegrass, like The Stanley Brothers, Ralph and Carter, left an indelible mark with heartfelt harmonies and soul-stirring lyrics, while pioneers Reno and Smiley and The Osborne Brothers broadened the genre's scope. But the Legends of Bluegrass extend beyond its early days. A new wave of artists emerged, including Alison Krauss and Keith Whitely, each carrying the torch and adding their unique flair. From joyous fiddle tunes to heartrending ballads, Bluegrass weaves a tapestry of emotions, vividly portraying the human experience. Join us on this musical odyssey through time, where we delve into the lives and accomplishments of the Legends of Bluegrass Music. Their stories remind us of the power of music to unite, uplift, and transcend barriers. As we journey through the pages of this book, we are moved by the incredible talent and indomitable spirit of these legendary artists who shaped Bluegrass into an everlasting, cherished art form.




Bluegrass Music


Book Description




Bluegrass Breakdown


Book Description

Bluegrass music is an original characterization, simply called a 'representation, ' of traditional Appalachian music in its social form.




Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music


Book Description

A colorful and comprehensive history of bluegrass and old-time Appalachian music from its legendary roots to today’s Grammy-winning stars. With simple instrumentation—banjo, guitar, and base—a great variety of musical traditions converged to create the “old-timey” music of Appalachia. Over time, that mountain sound evolved into numerous genres and subgenres that continue to thrive today. Now musician and roots music historian Craig Harris takes readers on an anecdotal journey through this distinctly American music. From the Grand Ole Opry and the historic Bristol Sessions to contemporary festivals and the reemergence of Bluegrass in popular culture, Harris combines extensive research and never-before-seen photographs with more than ninety exclusive interviews. Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music is chock full of anecdotes about Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Del McCoury, Doc Watson, Alison Kraus, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and more.